Friday, January 29, 2010

I posted something a while ago about a project that I was excited about working on. I finally got around to bringing it to fruition.

After a little mishap with a mitten I was creating, I decided to make some little toys to go with the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. This charming children's book is based on a Ukrainian folk tale about a lost mitten and a group of forest animals finding it and piling inside to keep warm. It was always a favorite, growing up. I'm thinking of giving these little guys away for a baby shower (with the book, of course) or perhaps saving them for my future kids. We'll see. :)

The mitten is crocheted out of a very soft, white yarn (lots of patterns can be found on the internet). The animals are created with oven bake clay (Sculpey) and painted with acrylic paint. I also used mod podge to seal them. The animals are as follows: Bear, Fox, Badger, Owl, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Mole and Mouse.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I saw this idea on some crocheting websites and found a great tutorial here. I've very rarely seen anyone wear these, but I love them! Very warm and tres chic. This project was quick and easy, although there are more intricate and difficult patterns that you can find. I liked how this pattern was simple (not tons of different stitches or counting), but it had some interesting texture and lines to it. It was nice to break away from the millions of hats I've been making recently!

Here are some cheesy webcam photos for your enjoyment and inspiration. :)

Here's what a cowl looks like when you're not wearing it.

The most popular way to wear a cowl. I like how it has the look and warmth of a scarf, without the ends. This will be nice to wear at work with the kids.

Ok, here's my experimental way of wearing a cowl. Hey, if it's snowing, why not use it as a hat/hood, too? (Actually, I read that "Cowl" is from the Latin world Cuculla meaning "hood") I look a bit like a Babushka, no?

Sunday, January 24, 2010

I've been wanting to try these for a while. I must admit, I thought that this would be an easy, 1/2 hour project, at most. It ended up being almost an entire day of cutting and re-cutting each silhouette. Although it was frustrating at times, I'm glad I stuck it out. I really like the end result, especially when multiple silhouettes are grouped together.

Here's how I made them:

1. I searched for photographs that would work well, anything that is a profile view or a dynamic action that you would be able to identify easily.

2. I chose three photographs to work with; Brian and I dancing at our wedding, Brian and I swing dancing and a photo of me drawing on the beach. After the photographs were chosen, I photocopied them (multiple times, since I kept re-doing them).

3. Once you have your photocopied photographs, I taped them to black paper.

4. Next, I cut (carefully!) around the figures taped to the black paper. This was very difficult to do, especially considering how small the figures were. I may invest in some very small scissors for the next time I do this. The faces are the most difficult part. This step took a lot of trial and error. I probably cut out at least 4 of each of my photographs until I cut one that I liked.

5. Once your black silhouettes are cut out, simple glue them to a white background.

6. I like these framed in black, so I bought a few cheap frames at the art store. I think it's nice to have different shapes and sizes. I got a 3x5, 4x6 and a 5x5.

Below, are photos of my finished silhouettes. There are so many interesting things you could do with this. I was imagining silhouettes of birds, my cat, trees, flowers, etc. When I have kids, I'd love to do a yearly silhouette of each of them. Anyways, give it a try!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Last Sunday night, Brian preached at our night service at church. He gave a beautiful and insightful sermon on family. I loved his illustration. Two balls of yarn, knit together to create something beautiful. Two families, their blessing and their curses, knit together and redeemed by Christ.

Worship him for weaving together our imperfect lives with God’s perfect desire.

“For YOU created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Pictures: Taken by my friend Cole, who has autism. He was more than delighted to be sneaking around with a camera. He especially enjoyed capturing the backs of people's heads. An older woman at my table made a good point "We have mirrors, we KNOW what our faces look like, but we have no idea what the backs of our heads are like." Thanks, Cole. :)

Saturday, January 16, 2010

I created a new zine this week for my friend Kristin, who has been suffering from painful and non stop headaches for more than a month. The nice thing about a zine is that once you make one, you can make photo copies of the original and create endless little books.

I used ink and black watercolors to create the images and simply cut out the text from a printed page.

The text is from one of my favorite devotional books, "Valley of Vision" , a collection of Puritan prayers.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

Thursday, January 14, 2010

There is much latent excitement found in unopened paint tubes, soft new brushes, a pure white canvas. Young faces were filled with wonderment when they realize that they are going to use these "real artist" materials for the first time.

We began violently. We killed the white in our canvas with blue watery paint. It's messy now. It's dirty and imperfect. (Do you know how hard it is to begin painting on a white canvas? It's so perfect. What if you "mess" it up?) Too late for us. We've killed the overwhelming mass of nothingness and perfection. Things can only get better from here.

We quietly and carefully gather objects from around the house, we create a composition of odds and ends on the kitchen table. Hmmmm-ing. Turning that just right. Moving this a little to the left. Ok. Ready.

We sketch. We lightly glide our chalk over the canvas. I want them loose. I want them to pull and push and give and take. I want them to search and find the line with their chalk, in rapid motion. Perfectionists, beware! Not for the lighthearted, this.

I think we're all looking forward to our next class. Bring on the paint.